I have accomplished something new!!! For the first time since the accident, I have managed to play 4 straight days of golf. I am extremely happy that I managed to play all the rounds at Belmont [Gosling’s Invitational – see http://goslingsinvitational.com ], despite the fact that it is extremely hilly. My scores were not the best as the lies and shaky putting produced 76-76-71-76. We golfers are never happy unless we actually win, so I am trying to convince myself that once I can actually work on my game, I may actually turn into a halfway decent golfer.

I did have some bolts of love from my leg, but we managed to get thru them.

I am still pretty pissed that I have not broken par yet, but I will have another chance next week @ Vero Beach grapefruit Pro Am. I sincerely believe that I will do it next week.

My stay @ the Sudbury Ranch has been wonderful. We are at the top of Lighthouse hill, overlooking the ocean. I must admit that my attempt to go in the ocean for a swim failed miserably. My one legged belly flop has not been recorded.

By the way, the new leg has worked really well, so I am encouraged by that progress also. The ladies at the Sudbury Ranch are annoyed at me, so I have decided to let them speak; from here on in it will be the voices of the psychotic females from the Sudbury Ranch:

“The most memorable moment during Ken’s play these last 4 days, was when he slipped, fell in a bunker, but he managed to hook it around a tree and hit it about 5 feet from 180 yards from his horizontal position in the bunker… ( we are still trying to get the sand out of his shorts ) ”

*Psycho 1*

“My favorite moment was Ken’s AMAZING shot on the 3rd day at the par 4 8th; the #1 handicap hole at Belmont. After taking a double and then a triple bogey the previous 2 rounds, he found himself in play off the tee, but in the rough on the right with an uphill lie, and blocked out by 3 tall palms to a severely elevated and multitiered green. Darron Swan (Ken’s caddie) and I thought the shot was ‘dead’, but not so per Ken. He lined up the shot and faded a brilliant strike around the palms and up to the back right tier of the green, hitting the flag and dropping it 3 feet from the pin for an ‘easy’ birdie. GOOD STUFF! He never gives up and is truly an inspiration…

After watching him play all week, I even managed to shoot an 83 with 25 putts in my weekly ladies’ tournament this morning! Maybe it’s rubbing off?? (I hope??!)”

*Psycho 2*

I will admit that both those shots were insanely good – pure hands at work. The awkward stance & the fall – wish I knew was going to happen. It’s easily in my top 5 of all time.

Former university roommates Zoltan Veress & Brian McCann set the early pace at the Gosling’s Invitational at Belmont Hills. . .

The Belmont greens were the undoing of several rounds yesterday, including that of former PGA Tour professional Ken Green. Green shot a 6-over par 76 and was less than happy with his day’s work, despite the fact that he is still getting used to playing with a prosthetic right leg after his car accident last year.

“There’s two ways of looking at it, I’ve done so little (with my game), I haven’t been able to do anything in terms of trying to get better. “Once a week just doesn’t fly when you’re trying to make such a dramatic change. So you shoot 6-over and you know you threw away shots, and some putts don’t go. Half of me is fuming, and the half says ‘you’ve got to be patient’. “I know I should be patient, but there is that part of me that says ‘you’re an absolute dope for playing that badly’. I’ve got to wait it out and let it come when it comes. “I’m basically trying to restart the game of golf. It’s got to be a whole new process, so I’ve got to learn the new swing, I’ve got to figure out how to hit chips, and even putting is different because I can’t get the angle on my knees. Some days I’m really good, and some days I just stink, like I did today. “You’re excited about trying to improve and trying to get better, but then there’s that part of you that knows what you used to be, and that part says ‘you dope how can you hit that shot’. “It’s a wild brain conversation that I have with myself, but you have to, you have to keep talking to yourself and say ‘ok, we’ve got to take this one step at a time.”

Like many yesterday Green had a bad day on the greens, and he said putting in Bermuda was something he had never really come to terms with. “I hit a couple of bad shots, I was actually relatively pleased with the way I struck it, but you have to putt in this game and there is just no other way around it, and I didn’t putt very well. “I’ve always remembered that putting in Bermuda is always hard. Unless you are here, and I’ve been here a lot, but I don’t know if I’ve ever felt like I’ve putted well. “It’s hard to figure it out. It’s a different grass, a little mixture of that salt air, and it’s beat me up pretty good over the years.”

Green will go out again tomorrow with father and son professionals Cole & Roy Willis from the US, but whether he manages to play all 4 days is yet to be seen.

“Because that’s the start, that means you are getting closer to maybe actually hitting balls one day and working on the game. “But if I was a betting man I don’t think it (the leg) is going to make it. But I have been wrong about numerous things.”

One of golf’s most colorful and inspiring personalities is in Bermuda for the Gosling Invitational which started today [Nov 29]. Ken Green had a solid career in the 1980’s, racking up five wins and competing on the 1989 United States Ryder Cup team.

In June 2009, he was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident which killed his brother, his girlfriend and his dog. Even though his lower right leg was amputated as a result of injuries suffered in the accident, Mr Green vowed to return to competitive golf. Earlier this year, he suffered yet another tragedy when his 21-year-old son Hunter was found dead in his college dorm room.

A colorful character, Mr. Green achieved a bit of notoriety for jumping into a canal in Palm Beach County, Florida to save his dog, Nip, from the jaws of an alligator. In addition he was fined in 1997 as during the Masters he was drinking beer on the golf course while playing.

He is pictured below today at the Belmont golf course. Mr Green shot a First Round 6-over par 76 and is T34th.

**PIC OF KG PUTTING**

Over 100 golfers are taking part in the Gosling’s Invitational which started today. Golfers from both Bermuda and overseas faced off in a professionals vs amateurs format, with the Professional Division boasting a prize purse of $60,000.

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3 COMMENTS POSTED his article:

11-29-10 11:31PM – BERMYGUY SAYS:Truly an inspiration.

11-30-10 9:12AM – KIM SWAN [Ken’s Friend in Life] SAYS:
Ken Green is a courageous competitor who understands life’s ups and downs. He is serving as a role model to those who live with amputations, physical disabilities and persons like war vets and the many throughout the world who have fallen and are trying to pick themselves up and carry on.

Ken Green has been one of the greatest influences on my life and the friendship and love that he and his entire family showed to me since 1976 when we became college team and then roommates has always been truly appreciated and reciprocated.

Ken who has won 5 times on the PGA TOUR (Canadian Open, Milwaukee Open (2), Greensboro Open and The International)and was once 3rd on the PGA Tour Money List in 89′ is showing us the “Rocky Balboa Style ” strength of character to get up off of the life’s canvas; dust yourself off and move forward and make a difference. God be with you my BROTHER. Kim Swan JP MP

12-1-10 4:28pm – KIM SWAN [Ken’s Friend in Life] SAYS:
Ken Green Shot 71 (1 over Par) in the 3rd round of the Gosling’s Invitational at Belmont Hills Newstead Resort (12 Pars, 3 birdies and 4 bogies). Ken started off slow with three consecutive bogies on #2, #3 & #4 but settled down with pars before rattling of consecutive birdies on #7 & #8 making the turn 35 (+1). Consistent play continued with Pars until he birdied the 13th but bogied the hilly #15 followed by all Pars to the clubhouse.

…This year marks 30 years since I graduated from Troy State University. It is a special homecoming for me for several reasons. I came to know about Troy State University through “golfing great” Ken Green (here today), then my Palm Beach Junior College roommate; and one of the biggest influences in my life. Ken was recruited by many of the major southern universities, including Troy State which was the reigning NCAA Division 2 Champions…

THE END OF HIS SPEECH:

“…And so I dare you to stand for things that are fundamentally right.

Dare to stand for a healthy environment so our children can enjoy a greener planet.

Dare to stand for fairness in all things.

Dare to be your brothers’ keeper.

Dare to break down barriers that keep people apart.

Dare to fill your heart with love each day.

Dare to make this world a better place.

Graduating Class of 2010, Go forth into the world. Make use of your knowledge with a spirit of love.

Let that spirit flow outward like a river from a mountain.

Let it flow to your family, your friends, your colleagues, your neighbours and fellow citizens, to one and all.

Live your life with love, and it will bear fruit.

Dr. Hawkins and esteemed members of the Board. Faculty, Staff and Graduating Class of 2010,

There is just one final duty I must perform here today and that is to give thanks to God for laying his hand on my life and on this University.

Troy University gave me vitally important things – skill, confidence, pride, discipline, compassion and an urge do what I can to make this world a better place.

Looking out on this great gathering, and seeing so many bright faces at the beginning of their great journey, I am filled with excitement and pride.

This is your time. This is your life. Work hard, do good, enjoy life.

God Bless America, God Bless Troy University and May God Bless OUR World with Peace and Love.